Improvement in office-slates



0. P. CHASE 8e 5. HARRIS.

OFFICE SLATES.

No.18'5,4Z9 Patented Dec. 19,1876.

HEGRAPHIC OONM UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ORRIN P. CHASE AND SAMUEL HARRIS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN OFFlCE-SLATES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 185,429, dated December 19, 1876 application filed April 17, 1876.

'reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

The object of our invention 1s to enable professional and business men to have a bookslate made in such form that during their absence any person can write their message upon the back leaf, and by closing the next leaf it will lock itself.

Our improvement consists of a book in which the leaves are made of slate, silicate, or other suitable material, so made and constructed that each leaf will lock itself inde pendent of each other leaf. There can be more or less in number of the leaves, as may be desired.

A is the back of the slate, made of any suitable material, and to which the leaves are attached at the side or end, as may be desired. On the under side of the back A is fastened the lock M. B B B are the leaves. E E E are bolts fastened to each leaf, and are of sufficient length to pass through the back at D. O O are strips of brass, bent over the leaves at their outer edge to stiffen them, or to prevent their breaking. The bolts E are fastened to thestrips O. F F F are catches, arranged in the lock with spiral springs, so when the leaves B are closed down the bolts E will press back the corresponding catch F until the notch N is in the proper position, when the spring I will force the catch F into the notch N, thereby locking the leaf. G is a tumbler, through which each catch passes.

A pin is put through each catch just back of the tumbler G. B is a projection from G, with a notch, V, into which the key fits. By turning the key the tumbler G will be drawn back, and with it all the catches, by means of which the catches will be withdrawn from the notches N, thereby unlocking the whole book at one time.

The book or slate will be used principally for the following purposes: Lawyers, doctors, com mission-merchants, brokers, and others, being absent from their office, will leave the slate unlocked. (Their name and directions how to use it are on or attached to the slate.) Any person wishing to leave a confidential message will write on the leaf nearest the back; then, by closing the next leaf down, it will lock itself. This will be repeated by all wishing to leave such messages. When the proprietor returns he can, by one turn of the key, unlock the whole book.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The slates or slated leaves B, arranged to be locked independently of each other by the bolts e, catches F, and springs I, or their equivalents, constructed substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In combination with the leaves of a bookslate, arranged to be locked independently, the catches F, springs I, and the tumbler G, or their equivalent, constructed substantially as above described, and for the purpose set forth.

ORRIN P. CHASE. SAMUEL HARRIS. Witnesses:

FITZ E. OULvER, GEORGE M. Davis. 

